Social media has gotten so full of acronyms and slang, that hardly anything is what it seems anymore. Moreover, these words are spilling into other apps and eventually into day-to-day speech! That is why it is important to stay up to date on the different terms used. In this article, we will cover what the term ‘sus’ means and how you can use it.

What is sus in text slang?

Sus is a slang word that is derived from two words; suspicious and suspect. Either of these words could have contributed to the slang. Sus can also be used interchangeably with either of the words. The term is used quite often in apps like Snapchat and TikTok.

However, sus has gone beyond the realms of social media apps.  The slang is now readily being used in IM apps like WhatsApp and even in daily speech!

What does sus mean?

Well, considering that it is derived from the words ‘suspicious’ and ‘suspect’, its meaning is also along those lines. Sus is used to express suspicion about someone or something. It is usually used as a reaction to a piece of information that the person has learned. For example, Person 1: I just heard Dwight’s not coming to school today. Person 2: Hmmm, that’s sus.

The term sus depends on context since it can be used interchangeably with ‘suspicious’ or ‘suspect’. Depending on what the sentence calls for, you can interpret the term accordingly.

How to best use the term sus?

The term ‘sus’ has become quite widely used on a number of platforms. You can either just use it in text form or search for a sticker to represent it! Either way, always make sure you check the context before using the term.

In text

The easiest way to use the term is simply by texting it. You can use the term ‘sus’ in messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram. You can use ‘sus’ in a sentence by just replacing the word ‘suspicious’. Alternatively, you could also simply use the term as a reply in itself.

For example:

  • Person 1: Did you know that Angela got an A in biology?
  • Person 2: Sus

In the example above, the term itself portrayed the entire meaning that the person was trying to express. Another reply could be “That’s really sus!”

In Snapchat snaps and stories

You can also use the term to reply to a person’s snap or story with your own snap. Alternatively, you can add it to your story too. Snapchat does have some stickers that you can use to express the term ‘sus’.

Launch the Snapchat app and use the Snapchat camera to take a photo to send as a snap. Now tap the stickers button on the right-side panel.

Use the search bar at the top to search for the term ‘sus’. Alternatively, you could also use other search words that mean the same thing. For example, ‘strange’, ‘weird’, ‘spooky’, etc. Basically words that correlate with ‘suspicious’ will have similar stickers that you can use.

In Instagram DMs

Instagram has its own messaging function in the form of Direct Messages or DMs. You can use sus to respond to a post that a friend has sent you. If the post is something suspicious, you could simply reply with ‘sus’ in the DM.

You can also use Instagram stickers to reply to DMs. To use a sticker, launch the Instagram app, and tap the DM button in the top right corner. Now locate the chat and tap the ‘Stickers’ button beside the text box.

Use the search bar to look for terms relating to ‘sus’ like ‘strange’, ‘weird’, ‘spooky’, and even ‘suspicious’.

As a GIF (using Gboard)

GIFs are a fun way to express an emotion or term. You can use GIFs in a number of messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, etc., and even in the messaging functions of social media apps like Instagram. You can use GIFs right from your virtual keyboard; that way you carry them to whichever app you are using.

To use GIFs on Gboard, launch any messaging app like WhatsApp. Now navigate to the chat where you want to use the GIF. Open your virtual keyboard by tapping on the textbox.

Now tap ‘GIF’ in the panel above the keyboard. Use the search function to look for terms relating to ‘sus’ like ‘strange’, ‘weird’, ‘spooky’, and even ‘suspicious’. Tap the GIF to send it immediately in the chat.

What does ‘mad sus’ mean?

The term ‘mad sus’ is used just like sus, but with more intensity. It basically means ‘mad suspicious’, which of course translates to ‘extremely suspicious’. You can use ‘mad sus’ instead of sus when the topic in question is more suspicious than normal. You can use the term in the same way mentioned above using stickers and related words to express it better on social media apps.

We hope this article helped. If you have any queries, feel free to reach out to us in the comments below.

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